Man charged with abuse in fire that killed 3 kids

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A man has been charged with child abuse in a February apartment fire in Kalamazoo that killed three young children who were left home alone.

The Kalamazoo Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/19WTeT7 ) Fred Glespie was arraigned Tuesday. A judge ordered that he get a court-appointed lawyer.

The 19-year-old is charged with second-degree child abuse in the Feb. 18 fire at Interfaith Homes that killed Jonetta Woods's 3-year-old twins and the children's 1-year-old sister. Authorities say the children were left to be cared for by another young child.

Glespie is Woods' ex-boyfriend. Woods isn't charged in the fire, but she was in family court Tuesday for a hearing about where the surviving child will live.

A family court jury in May found Woods and Glespie were neglectful on the day of the fire.